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The exonymTappan is likely a derivation of a word or phrase from the Algonquian languageLenape as used by settlers to New Netherland, who spelled it as Tappaen.[3] It is not certain what the Tappan called themselves, but there are a variety of interpretations for the word. One suggestion is that it possibly comes from tuphanne meaning cold water.[4] It related to contemporary petapan meaning dawn or petapaniui meaning at the break of dawn,[5] and relates to their kin across the river, the Wappinger, whose name is derived from the Algonquian people of the east or easterners. (Contemporary: Wapaneu meaning easterly and Wapanke meaning tomorrow.)

The Tappan migrated seasonally and engaged in companion planting, hunting, fishing, and trapping. Like the other natives who circulated in the region and whose territory overlapped, the Hackensack, Acquackanonk and Rumachenanck (later called the Haverstraw).[6] The Tappan were of the Turtle Clan and spoke the Unami dialect of Lenape. The Tappan and the Hackensack actually were but one tribe and members of it were called either by one name or another according to their dwelling place.[7] They, as well as the Raritan, Wappinger, Manhattan (also known as "Manhattoe"), were collectively known as the River Indians. Those groups living in the adjoining highlands to the west and north have become known as the Munsee.[8]

Contact with the European settlers was at first as trading partners. It is from them that David de Vries purchased the land (1640) to build the homestead at Vriessendael (Edgewater) and, who living among them, became an advocate of learning more about indigenous culture. It was an early Director of New Netherland, William Kieft, who attempted to exact tribute from them (but was ignored), and later allowed a number of them to be slaughtered after they had sought safety at Pavonia (1643), beginning a Kieft's War.

Some descendents of the Tappan may have become part of the Ramapough Mountain Indians.Blandina Kiersted Bayard bought the Ramapough Mahwah into Rockland County NY from the Hackensack Indians, Blandina and her mother spoke the Unami Dialect of the Hackensack Indians, later the Hackensack and Tappan Indians moved into the Ramapough the land they sold to their friend both these tribes were Unami. It is two my belief the natives in the Ramapoughs are descendants of these tribes. The Munsee may have been in the Ramapoughs further up but this part was owned and occupied by the Hackensack Natives.[9]

^Old Tappan is the name given to the region and its inhabitants by New Netherlanders from the 1687 patent: "…a Cartaine trackt of Landt named ould tappan as ye same is bounded by trees marked by ye indians." Tappan, from the Lenni Lenape word Tuphanne (reputed to mean cold water)